Results

Ford engineers and university research partners are exploring adsorption-based thermal batteries that could provide power for HVAC systems and lessen the load on battery packs, allowing electric vehicles to travel farther.

Panasonic Avionics signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China Telecom Satellite Communications Ltd. to jointly develop, implement, and support in-flight connectivity solutions for the Chinese market.

In a move to strengthen its hand in vehicle climate control and electronics, Visteon on Aug. 13 announced it has agreed to sell its 50% stake in a interior systems joint venture with a Chinese supplier and to increase its stake in an electronics joint joint venture with the same company.

Partitioned evaporator and heater cores, unique case airflow pattern, and in-dash welded ductwork aid packaging and eliminate the need for rear HVAC in the three-row crossover vehicle. Performance is claimed to be equal to the previous dual HVAC. The system was developed at Honda R&D Americas and is supplied by Delphi.

The risk of a vehicle occupant being exposed to a fire due to use of the new refrigerant R-1234yf is conservatively estimated at 3 x 10-12 event per vehicle operating hour—almost six orders of magnitude less than the current risk of vehicle fire due to all causes and "well below risks that are commonly viewed as acceptable by the general public," according to a cooperative research project (CRP) administered by SAE International and referred to in a June 25 press release from the organization.

Johnson Controls has acquired full ownership of Tata Johnson Controls, the now defunct 50-50 joint venture with Tata Automotive Components that supplied automotive seat systems and components in India to most major OEMs.

Behr America, Inc.’s analysis tools help automakers reduce climate-control-system blower noise by predicting vehicle noise levels from subsystem measurements, analyzing, and combining input from a large number of systems and locations within a vehicle.

Air-conditioning is essential for comfort and safety (defrost), but it uses fuel that could move the car, so it also is a target for improving vehicle fuel economy. New EPA test will give it the chance of proving it has developed fuel-sipping ways.

NHTSA (U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is recommending that in designing their vehicles, automakers disable manual text entry for text messaging and Internet browsing if the vehicle is not stopped and in park.

The lab runs fuel-economy tests with A/C on maximum vs. A/C "comfort level," A/C-off and with windows open and closed. Some results are surprising, including an unexpected "crossover" point in testing on a Toyota Corolla.

"Softex," a new Toyota artificial leather, has both good breathability and reflects infrared rays, so it has significant cooling properties. First applications are on Prius V, where it also is used for the steering wheel instead of a natural leather wrap, and new RAV-4.

The Cadillac ATS development team used a new GM visibility evaluation technique involving "hedgehog" visualization to create a corporate Driver Visibility Calculator. It enables vehicle-development teams to quickly study how structural design areas, such as pillar cross-section, affect the driver’s field of vision.

Responding to what it called an erroneous report, Johnson Controls said March 6 that it is exploring the possible sale of its automotive electronics business, but not its automotive interiors business.

Although German carmakers express concern over R-1234yf safety, others remain nominally committed. But work on AC6 blend (R-445A) continues, and R-744 (carbon dioxide as a refrigerant) is back in the picture. The industry also faces preparation for challenges from new EPA AC17 drive cycle that measures A/C fuel consumption for future CAFE credits.